A lecture for Comms 239, Principles of Journalism, at BYU on reporting on traumatic events.

2. Covering Trauma
Being ethical, staying safe

3. Exposure to trauma
Public health officials regard violence as an
epidemic
Studies suggest extensive exposure
40 to 80 percent of population has
experienced a traumatic event
Perhaps a quarter of those exposed suffer
emotional injury
William Coté & Roger Simpson, Covering Violence

4. Exposure to trauma
More central to our existence than we
acknowledge
Prime time television: five to six violent acts
each hour
Children’s programs more violent (by 18 years of
age 200,000 acts of violence)
William Coté & Roger Simpson, Covering Violence

5. Trauma & Journalism
“If truth is the first casualty of war, privacy is
the first casualty of any devastating,
unexpected event.”
Crime as a formula for news
Live television coverage exacerbates situation
Media portrays escalating crime at a time crime
rate has actually fallen
William Coté & Roger Simpson, Covering Violence

6. Television News
Violence is the currency of
competition
Emphasis is on crimes and
events – not punishments
or outcomes
The accused dominate stories, victims fade from
view
Violence explained simplistically
William Coté & Roger Simpson, Covering Violence

7. Journalists also affected
Once disguised by a
code of
professionalism
Many now
acknowledge pain and
suffering

8. Trauma & Journalism
How do journalists
usefully report violence
to audience already
saturated by violent
media?
What are the personal
and professional costs
of trading in injuries or
hurts of other humans?
William Coté & Roger Simpson, Covering Violence

9. Premise
News can tie the victim and the public together
constructively through the rigor of thoughtful
reporting practices
Journalists can act humanely toward victims while
adhering to the traditional values of journalism
William Coté & Roger Simpson, Covering Violence

10. Ethical goals
1. Search responsibly for the truth
2. Keep the public interest in mind
3. Care for the people in the story and
others close to them
4. Respect the voices of people at the
center of an event
5. Know that storytellers are also at risk
6. Do no harm
William Coté & Roger Simpson, Covering Violence

11. Journalistic treatment of
criminals & victims
Do not glamorize the criminal
Give victim “equal space”
Not minutes or column inches
Fair, thoughtful, humane
Recognize that the trauma victim has
become a different person
William Coté & Roger Simpson, Covering Violence

12. Concern for
victims
Re-examine assumption that reporters must
interview all victims and that photographers must
capture photos, video & audio of all victims
Make choice between preventing harm and
causing harm
William Coté & Roger Simpson, Covering Violence

13. Covering Tragedy
Interviewing Victims

14. Interviewing victims
• Treat victim with dignity and respect
– Know when and how to “back off”
• Clearly identify yourself
– Don’t be surprised if you receive a harsh
reaction (particularly from parents of child
victims)
– Do not respond with your own harsh
reaction
Dart Center, University of Washington: “Tragedies and Journalists: A Guide for More Effective Coverage,” 2003.

15. Interviewing victims
• You can say you’re sorry for the person’s loss
– Do not be surprised with response “Sorry
isn’t good enough.”
• Never say “I understand” or “I know how you
feel.”
• Don’t start with the hardest question.
– “Can you tell me about Jerry’s life?”
– “What did Jerry like to do?”
• Listen
Dart Center, University of Washington: “Tragedies and Journalists: A Guide for More Effective Coverage,” 2003.

16. Interviewing victims
• When interviewing relatives of a missing
person emphasize you seek to profile their
lives before the person went missing – not an
obituary.
• Leave your card in case they want to talk later.
Dart Center, University of Washington: “Tragedies and Journalists: A Guide for More Effective Coverage,” 2003.

17. Covering Tragedy
Writing the story

18. Writing about victims
• Focus on the person’s life
• Always be accurate
– Double check (victims may be confused or
distracted when you first talk to them)
• Use details that describe victims as they lived
• Avoid unneeded gory details about the victims’
death
Dart Center, University of Washington: “Tragedies and Journalists: A Guide for More Effective Coverage,” 2003.

19. Writing about victims
• Avoid the following words and terms:
– “closure”
– “will rest in peace”
– “a shocked community mourns the death...”
• Instead, use simple and clear words
• Use quotes and anecdotes from victims friends
and relatives to describe the person’s life
• Borrow (and quickly return) current photos of
the victim
Dart Center, University of Washington: “Tragedies and Journalists: A Guide for More Effective Coverage,” 2003.

20. Covering Tragedy
The visual story

21. The visual story
• Journalists often are the first to arrive on the
scene
– Be aware of dangerous situations
– Be ready for harsh reactions from law
enforcement and public
– Stay calm
– Leave scene if too dangerous
Dart Center, University of Washington: “Tragedies and Journalists: A Guide for More Effective Coverage,” 2003.

22. The visual story
• If you record bloody images, ask yourself
whether these are important enough for
historical purposes or too graphic for your
readers and viewers
• Do everything possible to avoid violating
someone’s private grieving
– Distinguish between emotion at public
scenes and a private grieving process on
private property
Dart Center, University of Washington: “Tragedies and Journalists: A Guide for More Effective Coverage,” 2003.

23. Covering Tragedy
Journalists as first
responders

24. Journalists as first responders
• Know your limits
• Take breaks
• Realize that you are a human being who must
take care of your mind
• Find a sensitive listener
• Talk about your experience, admit your
emotions
• Seek comfort from the Gospel
• If necessary, seek professional counseling
Dart Center, University of Washington: “Tragedies and Journalists: A Guide for More Effective Coverage,” 2003.

25. http://dartcenter.org